Abstract: Today’s Chinese women are expected to work and contribute to society,just like men,while simultaneously taking on most family responsibilities at home. The dominant belief is that only when women excel both at work and home,can they be deemed successful and content. This set of expectations not only represents social ideals for women but also serves as a personal life goal for many. Nonetheless,it is not clear whether work-family balance truly makes women happy and fulfilled. 
The happiness of women holds significant implications not only for the stability and harmony of individual families but also for the sustainable development of society as a whole. The current research  focuses on female time allocation and investigate how the distribution of time between work and family impacts female happiness. From an observer’s perspective,it seems that women who prioritize either family or work often find themselves at a disadvantage in both aspects:full-time homemakers feel less powerful at home,whereas work-oriented women may lack the support and warmth provided by their loved ones. Consequently,achieving work-family balance becomes an ideal state that promises women a heightened sense of well-being,perceived as a “double success”. Nevertheless,when viewed from the actor’s standpoint,balancing work-family time allocation exposes women to role conflicts and decision-making difficulties. For instance,work demands often disrupt family obligations and encroach upon precious family time. Moreover,women who strive for balance may perceive themselves as falling short in both domains when compared to those who prioritize their family or work and,as a result,feel unaccomplished. Hence,while the public tends to view balanced women as happier than family-oriented or work-oriented women,women who are actually balancing time allocation may not share the same sentiment and,paradoxically,view work-family balance as a “double stressor” in their life. In line with this paradox,psychological research has documented that people may “miswant” things that they do not actually enjoy because they are in different mindsets when predicting versus experiencing.
Data from more than 30 provinces and cities across China highlights the disparity between the predicted and the actual experience. To examine social perception,we randomly assigned 1,500 respondents to one of three distinct patterns of  time allocation:balanced (equal distribution of time between family and work),family-oriented (dedicating most time to family),and work-oriented (prioritizing the majority of time for work commitments). We find that people perceived balanced women to be happier than family-oriented (+13%) or work-oriented women (+22%). This social perception of “double success” holds across various demographics. 
In order to assess the actual well-being of women,we analyzed two nationally representative datasets:the 2010 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) and the 2018 China Household Time Use Survey data. Despite the time lag and divergent measurements of time allocation,the findings are remarkably consistent:The more balanced the time allocation between work and family,the lower the reported levels of happiness among women. This pattern was most pronounced among women between 25 and 45 years old,when they were active in the workforce and shoulder most of the caregiving responsibilities at the same time. Thus,it seems that time invested in work and family constitutes a “double stressor” for balanced women. However,this pattern does not arise in men,which suggests that work-family balance primarily places a burden on women,compelling them to strive for excellence in both roles. Conversely,social expectations regarding male success predominantly focus on their professional achievements,with weaker expectations for them to take on family responsibilities.
To better understand the economic impact of time balance,we compared its effect size against the effect of income,which has a strong positive influence on female happiness. Our findings indicate that every hour toward the absolute balance (i.e.,work time=family time) decreases female happiness to the extent of losing a year of their income on average. Thus,the impact of balance on happiness is not only statistically significant but economically meaningful.
Our findings contribute to and expand upon previous research on the gap between predicted and experienced affective states. They also offer valuable insights into female happiness from the perspective of time allocation. Contrary to some findings in other countries,where the time balance between work and family increases time pressure but does not undermine female life satisfaction,the “double-stressor” phenomenon in China suggests that it may be unique to cultures where the public holds expectations for women to excel both at work and family yet social and institutional support for balancing is lacking. For policymakers and managers,our findings suggest that it is crucial to assist both women themselves and society at large in breaking free from the illusion of “double success” imposed on the “ideal woman”. By challenging the entrenched beliefs and perceptions surrounding the notion of “having it all,” women can attain more freedom in choosing and managing their own time and happiness. In addition,companies should (continue to) promote flexible working hours for female employees. Related policies such as remote work options and on-site childcare facilities can help improve the happiness,productivity,and self-efficacy of women in the workforce.